Apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections is in the form of a handheld splicer. The splicer comprises a preprocessing unit, which may comprise a plurality of processing devices for carrying out removal, cleaning and cutting steps. The optical waveguide sections are clamped in a holding apparatus and are prepared in the preprocessing unit. The holding apparatuses are inserted with the prepared optical waveguide sections into a splicing unit, where they are spliced. The spliced optical waveguide sections can be fed by means of a transfer station to a shrinking oven for shrinking a shrink sleeve on. The preprocessing unit, the splicing unit and the shrinking oven can be controlled by means of one hand of an operator, while the splicer is held with the other hand.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/EP2007/058039, filed Aug. 2, 2007, which claims priority to GermanApplication No. DE102006036330.2, filed Aug. 3, 2006, both applicationsbeing incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for splicing of optical waveguidesections, in which case the apparatus can be used as a handheld splicer.The apparatus can be held in one hand, while it is operated using theother hand. The disclosure also relates to a method for carrying out asplicing process using a handheld splicer, in which case the splicer canbe operated using one hand.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Optical waveguides frequently have to be spliced at points where accessis difficult, for example in the area of cable junctions which areburied in the ground or on a mast. In general, not much space isavailable for the person carrying out the work in this case. Inparticular, there is often no flat surface available in order to placethe splicer down at the splicing location. For example, it is thus oftenimpossible, after exposing a cable junction in the ground, to place thesplicer down close to the optical waveguides to be spliced. Whensplicing optical waveguides on a cable mast, there are in generallikewise only very restricted options for positioning the splicer nearbyin the area of the optical waveguides to be spliced.

There is therefore a need for a splicer which can be used as a handheldappliance. In the case of an appliance such as this, there should, ifpossible, no longer be any need to place the appliance down on a fixedbase. In fact, the appliance should be operable by one hand, while theperson carrying out the work can operate it using the other hand. Inthis case, it should be possible to carry out all the processing stepswhich are required to carry out a splicing process, using the handheldsplicer. This relates in particular to preprocessing steps forpreparation of an optical waveguide for a splicing process, such asremoval of a fiber coating, cleaning of the fiber and subsequentprocessing of the break point with a cutter. Furthermore, of course, itshould also be possible to carry out the subsequent splicing process andthe shrinking of a shrink sleeve onto the splicing point using thesplicer, operated with one hand.

SUMMARY

One aspect the disclosure is directed to an apparatus for splicing ofoptical waveguide sections which allows a splicing process to be carriedout at virtually any desired points and in a manner which can be handledeasily. A further aspect is a method which makes it possible to spliceoptical waveguide sections to one another at virtually any desiredlocations in a relatively simple manner.

The apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections includes apreprocessing unit for an optical waveguide section that prepares it fora splicing process, wherein the preprocessing unit is fitted to theapparatus for splicing. A holding apparatus is also provided for holdingthe optical waveguide section. The holding apparatus can be attached tothe preprocessing unit for processing of the optical waveguide section.The apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections furthermorecomprises a splicing unit for splicing of optical waveguide sections,wherein the splicing unit is fitted to the apparatus for splicing. Theholding apparatus can be fitted to the splicing unit for splicing of theoptical waveguide sections. The apparatus for splicing furthermorecomprises a control device for controlling the apparatus for splicing.After the holding apparatus has been attached to the preprocessing unit,the optical waveguide section can be processed by activating the controldevice for preparation of the splicing process. Furthermore, after theholding apparatus has been attached to the splicing unit, the opticalwaveguide section can be spliced to a further optical waveguide sectionby activating the control device.

Additionally, the splicer may be operated with one hand, while a userholds the appliance firmly in the other hand. In order to prepare forthe splicing process for the optical waveguide sections to be spliced, acoating of the optical waveguides is removed by means of thepreprocessing unit. After this, the exposed fibers of the opticalwaveguide sections are cleaned in the preprocessing unit. Thepreparation of the optical waveguide sections for the splicing processalso includes the adaptation of a break point of the optical waveguidesections. For example, splits at the break point are removed, and thebreak point is straightened out by means of the preprocessing unit. Thesplicing process comprises the alignment of the prepared opticalwaveguide sections in the splicing unit and the fusing of the opticalwaveguide sections. In order to carry out the preprocessing of theoptical waveguide sections and the splicing process by means of onehand, while the splicer is held in the other hand, the preprocessingunit, the splicing unit and the control unit for controlling thepreprocessing unit and the splicing unit are integrated in a housing ofthe apparatus for splicing of the optical waveguides. This allowsrelatively simple handling of the splicer particularly at splicinglocations where only a small amount of space is available for a splicerto be placed down.

According to one aspect, the preprocessing unit comprises a firstprocessing device to which the holding apparatus can be attached. Thefirst processing device is designed such that, after the holdingapparatus in which the optical waveguide section is held has beenattached to the first processing device, a coating on the opticalwaveguide section can be removed by activating the control device.

The preprocessing unit preferably comprises a second processing deviceto which the holding apparatus can be attached. The second processingdevice is designed such that, after the holding apparatus in which theoptical waveguide section is held has been attached to the secondprocessing device, a surface of the optical waveguide section can becleaned by activating the control device.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus, the preprocessing unitcomprises a third processing device to which the holding apparatus canbe attached. The third processing device is designed such that, afterthe holding apparatus in which the optical waveguide section is held hasbeen attached to the third processing device, a break point in theoptical waveguide section can be processed by activating the controldevice.

The preprocessing unit may comprise at least one insertion apparatuswhich is designed such that the holding apparatus can be inserted intothe at least one insertion apparatus, for attaching to the preprocessingunit.

The first processing device is preferably designed such that the coatingon the optical waveguide section is removed when the holding apparatusis pulled out of the insertion apparatus. The second processing deviceis preferably designed such that the surface of the optical waveguidesection is cleaned when the holding apparatus is pulled out of theinsertion apparatus.

According to another embodiment of the apparatus, the holding apparatuscomprises a clamping apparatus by means of which the optical waveguidesection can be clamped in the holding apparatus. In this case, theclamping apparatus may comprise a moving clamping jaw. When the clampingjaw is in a first position, the optical waveguide section can beinserted into a groove of the clamping apparatus. When the clamping jawis in a second position, the optical waveguide section is clamped in thegroove. The clamping jaw preferably assumes the first or second positionby rotating an eccentric, but other suitable mechanisms are possible.

The holding apparatus preferably comprises an introduction apparatus, inwhich a shrink sleeve can be placed. The holding apparatus preferablycomprises a guide rail by means of which the holding apparatus can beattached to the preprocessing unit and to the splicing unit.

In one development of the apparatus, a shrinking oven is provided, bymeans of which the shrink sleeve can be shrunk onto a splicing point ofthe optical waveguide section which is spliced in the splicing unit,wherein the shrinking oven is fitted to the apparatus. The apparatus forsplicing furthermore comprises a bracket, which is mounted such that itcan rotate and is fitted to the apparatus for splicing, wherein theoptical waveguide section can be attached to the bracket which ismounted such that it can rotate. The bracket which is mounted such thatit can rotate is fitted to the apparatus for splicing such that, afterthe bracket has been attached, the optical waveguide section can beremoved from the holding apparatus by rotating the bracket to a firstrotation position. Furthermore the bracket which is mounted such that itcan rotate is fitted to the apparatus for splicing such that the opticalwaveguide section can be inserted into the shrinking oven by rotatingthe bracket further, starting from the first rotation position, to asecond rotation position.

One embodiment of the apparatus for holding an optical waveguide sectioncomprises a guide rail by means of which the apparatus for holding theoptical waveguide can be attached to a processing unit for processingthe optical waveguide section. The apparatus for holding the opticalwaveguide section furthermore has a clamping apparatus, by means ofwhich the optical waveguide section can be clamped in the holdingapparatus.

One embodiment of the apparatus for splicing of optical waveguidesections makes it possible to feed the optical waveguide sections whichhave been spliced to one another to a shrinking oven, in which case thetransfer can be accomplished by single-handed operation of the splicingapparatus. The apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sectionscomprises a splicing unit for splicing of the optical waveguidesections, wherein the splicing unit is fitted to the apparatus forsplicing. Furthermore, at least one holding apparatus is provided forholding an optical waveguide section, and is arranged on the splicingunit. Furthermore, the apparatus for splicing of optical waveguidesections has a shrinking oven, by means of which a shrink sleeve can beshrunk onto a splicing point of the optical waveguide sections which arespliced in the splicing unit, wherein the shrinking oven is fitted tothe apparatus for splicing. The apparatus furthermore comprises abracket which is mounted such that it can rotate and is fitted to theapparatus for splicing, wherein the spliced optical waveguide sectionscan be attached to the bracket which is mounted such that it can rotate.The bracket which is mounted such that it can rotate is fitted to theapparatus for splicing such that, when the bracket is in a firstrotation position, the spliced optical waveguide sections can be removedfrom the holding apparatus, after attaching to the bracket, by rotatingthe bracket. The bracket which is mounted such that it can rotate is,furthermore, fitted to the apparatus for splicing such that the splicedoptical waveguide sections can be fed to the shrinking oven by rotatingthe bracket further from the first rotation position to a secondrotation position.

A method for carrying out a splicing process includes providing anapparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections, which comprises apreprocessing unit for preparing an optical waveguide section for asplicing process, and a splicing unit for splicing the optical waveguidesection, wherein the preprocessing unit and the splicing unit are fittedto the apparatus for splicing. The optical waveguide section is mountedin a holding apparatus. The holding apparatus is attached to thepreprocessing unit. The optical waveguide section is processed using thepreprocessing unit and activating a control device. The holdingapparatus is released from the preprocessing unit. The holding apparatusis attached to the splicing unit. The splicing process is carried outusing the splicing unit and activating the control device, with theoptical waveguide section being spliced to another optical waveguidesection.

Another method for carrying out a splicing process includes providing anapparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections having a splicingunit for splicing of the optical waveguide sections, wherein thesplicing unit is fitted to the apparatus for splicing. The opticalwaveguide sections are mounted in a holding apparatus. The holdingapparatus is attached to the splicing unit. The splicing process iscarried out using the splicing unit. A bracket which is mounted suchthat it can rotate and is arranged on the apparatus for splicing isrotated to a first rotation position. The spliced optical waveguidesections are released from the holding apparatus and are attached to thebracket. Starting from the first rotation position, the bracket isrotated to a second rotation position in which the spliced opticalwaveguide sections are fed to a shrinking oven, for the shrink sleeve tobe shrunk on.

Further embodiments relating to the apparatus for splicing of opticalwaveguide sections, to a holding apparatus for fixing an opticalwaveguide section, to an apparatus which makes it possible to feedoptical waveguide sections which have been spliced to one another to ashrinking oven, wherein the transfer can be carried out by single-handedoperation, and to a method or methods for carrying out a splicingprocess are specified in the dependent claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments of thedisclosure, and are intended to provide an overview or framework forunderstanding the nature and character of the invention as it isclaimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and togetherwith the description serve to explain the principles and operation ofthe same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of an apparatus for splicing of opticalwaveguide sections,

FIG. 2 shows a removal, cleaning and cutting apparatus for preparing theoptical waveguide section for a splicing process,

FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of a holder for holding an opticalwaveguide section,

FIG. 3B shows one embodiment of a holder for holding an opticalwaveguide section with a shrink sleeve,

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a clamping apparatus for holding anoptical waveguide section in a holding apparatus,

FIG. 5A shows a first position of a rotating apparatus, by means ofwhich an optical waveguide section can be clamped in a clampingapparatus,

FIG. 5B shows a second position of a rotating apparatus, by means ofwhich an optical waveguide section can be clamped in a clampingapparatus,

FIG. 5C shows a first position of a rotating apparatus, by means ofwhich an optical waveguide section can be removed from the holdingapparatus after a splicing process,

FIG. 6 shows a cross section through an optical waveguide section,

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of an apparatus for splicing of opticalwaveguide sections, in which the optical waveguide sections to bespliced are inserted into a splicing unit,

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of an apparatus for splicing of opticalwaveguide sections, in which the spliced optical waveguide sections arefed to a shrinking oven by means of a transfer station,

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of an apparatus for splicing of opticalwaveguide sections, in which a shrink sleeve is shrunk onto a splicingpoint in a shrinking oven.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wheneverpossible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to likecomponents or parts.

FIG. 1 shows a splicer 1000 for splicing of optical waveguide sections,which can be used as a handheld appliance. The splicer can be held inone hand, while the splicer can be operated using the other hand. Sincethe splicer can be held in one hand while it is being operated, there isno longer any need to place the splicer down on a fixed base in order tocarry out the splicing processes. The splicer disclosed therefore makesit possible to carry out a splicing process irrespective of the localcircumstances.

The splicer comprises a preprocessing unit 100 which is arranged on oneside of the splicer. The preprocessing unit has a plurality ofprocessing devices 110, 120 and 130 which can be accessed by insertingan optical waveguide section into various insertion apparatuses 111, 121and 131. While the splicer is held by an operator in one hand, theoptical waveguide section to be spliced can be inserted successivelyinto the insertion apparatuses 111, 121 and 131 using the other hand.

FIG. 2 shows the processing devices 110, 120 and 130, which are arrangedin the insertion apparatuses 111, 121 and 131. The processing devicescan be used to prepare the optical waveguide sections for a splicingprocess. First of all, an optical waveguide section to be spliced isinserted into the insertion apparatus 111. The processing device 110which is connected to the insertion apparatus 111 is used to remove anouter coating on an optical waveguide section at the splicing point,where the optical waveguide section is intended to be spliced to anotheroptical waveguide section. The processing device 110 is therefore in theform of a removal apparatus which, for example, comprises a cutting tool112. The optical waveguide section is then inserted into the insertionapparatus 121, and is thus fed to the processing device 120. The fibercore which has been exposed by the processing unit 110 is cleaned in theprocessing device 120. The optical waveguide section is then insertedinto the insertion apparatus 131, in which a processing device 130 isarranged by means of which the break point of the optical waveguidesection is processed. The processing device 130 is in the form of acutting apparatus and removes any splits at the break point, thuscreating a straight break point.

The optical waveguide section to be spliced is preferably not inserteddirectly into the insertion apparatuses 111, 121 and 131, but is firstof all clamped firmly in a holding apparatus. FIG. 3A shows a holdingapparatus 200, which is in the form of an adapter, and contains, on theunderneath, a guide rail 250 by means of which it can be inserted intothe insertion apparatuses. The holding apparatus has a guide opening 230into which the optical waveguide section to be spliced can be inserted.The optical waveguide section is then pushed in the direction of aclamping apparatus 210 until the end to be spliced projects out of theclamping apparatus 210.

In one preferred embodiment, the holding apparatus 200 additionallycomprises an introduction apparatus 220 in which a shrink sleeve 3 canbe placed. FIG. 3B shows a shrink sleeve 3 which has been placed in theintroduction apparatus 220. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B,the holding apparatus also comprises a rotating apparatus 240, whereinthe optical waveguide section is firmly clamped by rotating the clampingwheel 240 in the clamping apparatus 210.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the clamping apparatus 210. The clampingapparatus comprises a moving clamping jaw 212 and a stationary part 211.When the rotating apparatus is in a first position, as is illustrated inFIG. 5A, there is a narrow groove 215, into which the optical waveguidesection is inserted, between the clamping jaw 212 and the stationarypart 211. When the rotating apparatus 240 is rotated to a clampingposition, as is illustrated in FIG. 5B, an eccentric apparatus 213 isrotated, as a result of which the clamping jaw 212 is moved around anaxis 216 in the direction of the stationary part 211. The clamping jaw212 thus clamps an optical waveguide section that has been arranged inthe groove 215 against the stationary part 211 of the clampingapparatus.

In order to prepare an optical waveguide section for a splicing process,the rotating apparatus 240 is first of all rotated to the insertionposition illustrated in FIG. 5A. The optical waveguide section can beinserted into the groove 215 of the clamping apparatus 211, when therotating apparatus is in this state, through the guide opening 230 andthe shrink sleeve 3, which has previously been placed in theintroduction apparatus 220. The optical waveguide section to be splicedis in this case inserted into the holding apparatus 200 until its freeend projects out of the holding apparatus, or out of the clampingapparatus 210. In order to clamp the optical waveguide firmly on theholding apparatus, the rotating apparatus 240 is rotated to the clampingposition illustrated in FIG. 5B. Rotating the rotating apparatus alsorotates the eccentric apparatus 213, as a result of which the clampingjaw 212 firmly clamps the optical waveguide section in the groove 215.The holding apparatus 200 is then inserted into the insertion apparatus111.

In order to at this stage allow the optical waveguide section to beinserted into the holding apparatus 200 and the shrink sleeve to beplaced in the introduction apparatus 220 using one hand, the holdingapparatus can be attached to the splicer 1000. A further option is topartially insert the holding apparatus into one of the insertionapparatuses, such that the adapter is held therein and the shrink sleevecan be inserted and the fiber pushed in.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the optical waveguide section 1, whoseend to be spliced projects out of the clamping apparatus 210. Theoptical waveguide section comprises a fiber core K and a coating B. Inorder to remove the coating B, a lever 11 of a control device 10 isarranged on the upper face of the splicing apparatus 1000. The cuttingtool 112 of the processing device 110 is activated by rotating thelever, and cuts through the coating B as far as the fiber core K. Thelever is in this case controlled by one hand, while the operator holdsthe splicer firmly using the other hand. The coating is actually removedwhen the holding apparatus 200 is removed from the insertion apparatus111.

In order to clean the fiber core, the holding apparatus 200 is insertedwith the fiber core K, which projects out of the clamping apparatus 210,into the insertion apparatus 121. The processing device 120 which isarranged in the insertion apparatus 121 comprises, for example,cotton-wool balls 122, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which are pressedagainst the fiber core by operating the lever 11. The fiber core slidespast the balls, and is thus cleaned, by pulling the holding apparatusout of the insertion apparatus 121.

This cleaning process for preparing the optical waveguide section for asubsequent splicing process can also be carried out using just one hand.In this case, the adapter 200 is, for example, first of all insertedinto the insertion apparatus 121, and is firmly clamped, using the righthand. The lever 11 can then be operated, likewise using the right hand,as a result of which the cleaning fibers 122 are pressed against thefiber. The adapter is then pulled out of the insertion apparatus 121using the right hand. During these processing steps, the handheldsplicer is held firmly by the operator using his free left hand.

In order to straighten out the break point or the splicing point of theoptical waveguide section to be spliced and to remove any splits, theholding apparatus 200 is then inserted into the insertion apparatus 131.When the lever 11 is operated again, the break point is straightened outby means of a cutter 132 of the processing device 130, which isaccessible via the insertion apparatus. The splicing apparatus can beheld in one hand during this processing step as well, while theinsertion of the holding apparatus into the insertion apparatus 131 andthe operation of the lever 11 occur using the other hand.

The processing units can, of course, also be operated using controldevices other than a lever, for example by means of a pushbutton 12.

Once the optical waveguide section 1, which has been fixed in theholding apparatus 200, has been prepared in this way for the splicingprocess, it is inserted into the actual splicing unit 300, which islocated at the other end of the splicing apparatus. A further opticalwaveguide section 2, which is intended to be spliced to the opticalwaveguide section 1 that has already been prepared for the splicingprocess, is then likewise prepared for the splicing process by insertingit into a further holding apparatus and by removing its coating,cleaning its fiber and straightening out the break point by means of thepreprocessing unit 100. After the end of the preprocessing work, theoptical waveguide section 2 to be spliced is likewise inserted with theholding apparatus 200 into the splicing unit 300. FIG. 7 shows the twooptical waveguide sections 1 and 2 arranged in the holding apparatuses200 a and 200 b and inserted in the splicing unit 300.

The holding apparatuses 200 can likewise be inserted into the splicingunit 300 using one hand, while the operator's other hand is used to holdthe splicer. The holding apparatuses 200 may, for example, be insertedat the side into the splicing unit 300 via their guide rails 250 (FIG. 3a). A further embodiment option is for the guide rail 250 to bemagnetic, as a result of which the holding apparatus is fixed in thesplicing unit 300 by magnetic forces. The control of the actual splicingprocess, for example the striking of an arc, is carried out by means ofa control device 13.

After the two optical waveguide sections have been spliced, the shrinksleeve 3 is shrunk onto the optical waveguide sections which have beenspliced to one another, in order to protect the splicing point. For thispurpose, the two connected optical waveguide sections 1 and 2 are fedwith the shrink sleeve arranged over the optical waveguide section 1 toa shrinking oven 500. FIG. 7 shows a transfer station, which is in theform of a bracket 400 which can be rotated, and is fitted to the upperend of the splicing apparatus 1000.

The bracket is first of all rotated such that the two optical waveguidesections which have been spliced to one another can be firmly clamped intwo clamping devices 410 and 420 of the bracket. The respective rotatingapparatus 240 of the holding apparatuses 200 is then rotated to theposition illustrated in FIG. 5C. In this position, the clamping jaw 212releases the firmly clamped optical waveguide section. The opticalwaveguide sections which have been spliced to one another can be removedfrom the two holding apparatuses by means of the bracket 400 through theopening in the rotating apparatus. Both the clamping of the opticalwaveguide sections which have been spliced to one another in theclamping devices 410 and 420 and the rotation of the rotatingapparatuses can be carried out successively using one hand, while theoperator's other hand still holds the splicer firmly.

The optical waveguide sections which have been spliced to one anotherare then fed by rotating the bracket 400 to a shrinking oven 500 whichis arranged underneath the splicer (FIG. 9). FIG. 8 shows the removal ofthe optical waveguide sections, which have been spliced to one anotherto form an optical waveguide, from the holding apparatuses and therotation of the bracket, until the spliced optical waveguides are fed,after rotation of the bracket, to the shrinking oven 500, as shown inFIG. 9. When the bracket 400 is in the rotation position shown in FIG.8, the shrink sleeve, which is initially still arranged in the area ofthe optical waveguide section 1, can be pulled over the splicing pointbetween the two optical waveguide sections. The bracket 400 is onceagain rotated using one hand, while the other hand still holds thesplicer firmly.

The shrinking process for shrinking the shrink sleeve on over thesplicing point can then be controlled by the control device 13. Afterthe shrink sleeve has been shrunk on, the clamping devices 410 and 420on the bracket which can rotate are released again by means of one hand,such that the optical waveguide sections which have been spliced to oneanother can be placed, for example, in a splice cassette.

The apparatus disclosed for splicing of optical waveguide sectionsprovides both a splicer and a method for splicing of optical waveguidesections, which make it possible to carry out a splicing process fromthe preparation of the fibers for the splicing process, through theactual process of splicing the fibers, to a shrink sleeve being shrunkon over the splicing point, using one hand, while the splicing apparatusis held in the operator's other hand. For this purpose, thepreprocessing unit, the splicing unit, the shrinking oven and thecontrol unit for controlling the preprocessing unit, the splicing unitand the shrinking oven are integrated in a housing of the apparatus forsplicing of the optical waveguide sections. There is therefore no longerany need to place a splicer down at the point of use, which in manycases can be done only with difficulty, because of an unsuitable base.

1. An apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections, comprising:a preprocessing unit by means of which an optical waveguide section canbe processed in order to prepare it for a splicing process, wherein thepreprocessing unit is fitted to the apparatus for splicing, a holdingapparatus for holding the optical waveguide section, wherein the holdingapparatus can be attached to the preprocessing unit for processing ofthe optical waveguide section, a splicing unit for splicing of opticalwaveguide sections, wherein the splicing unit is fitted to the apparatusfor splicing, wherein the holding apparatus can be fitted to thesplicing unit for splicing of the optical waveguide sections, a controldevice for controlling the apparatus for splicing, wherein, after theholding apparatus has been attached to the preprocessing unit, theoptical waveguide section can be processed by activating the controldevice for preparation for the splicing process, wherein, after theholding apparatus has been attached to the splicing unit, the opticalwaveguide section can be spliced to a further optical waveguide sectionby activating the control device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe preprocessing unit comprises a first processing device to which theholding apparatus can be attached, wherein the first processing deviceis designed such that, after the holding apparatus in which the opticalwaveguide section is held has been attached to the first processingdevice, a coating on the optical waveguide section can be removed byactivating the control device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein thepreprocessing unit comprises a second processing device to which theholding apparatus can be attached, wherein the second processing deviceis designed such that, after the holding apparatus in which the opticalwaveguide section is held has been attached to the second processingdevice, a surface of the optical waveguide section can be cleaned byactivating the control device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein thepreprocessing unit comprises a third processing device to which theholding apparatus can be attached, wherein the third processing deviceis designed such that, after the holding apparatus in which the opticalwaveguide section is held has been attached to the third processingdevice, a break point in the optical waveguide section can be processedby activating the control device.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe preprocessing unit comprises at least one insertion apparatus,wherein the insertion apparatus is designed such that the holdingapparatus can be inserted into the at least one insertion apparatus, forattaching to the preprocessing unit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the first processing device is designed such that the coating onthe optical waveguide section is removed when the holding apparatus ispulled out of the insertion apparatus.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein a second processing device is designed such that a surface ofthe optical waveguide section is cleaned when the holding apparatus ispulled out of the insertion apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the control device is in the form of a lever or a pushbutton. 9.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding apparatus comprises aclamping apparatus by means of which the optical waveguide section canbe clamped in the holding apparatus.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the clamping apparatus comprises a moving clamping jaw, whereinthe optical waveguide section can be inserted into a groove in theclamping apparatus when the clamping jaw is in a first position, and theoptical waveguide section is clamped in the groove when the clamping jawis in a second position.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein theclamping jaw assumes the first or second position by rotating aneccentric.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the holding apparatuscomprises a rotating apparatus, by means of which the eccentric can berotated.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the clamping apparatusis designed such that the optical waveguide section can be inserted intothe groove of the holding apparatus when the rotating apparatus is in afirst position, wherein the clamping apparatus is designed such that theoptical waveguide section is clamped in the groove of the holdingapparatus when the rotating apparatus is in a second position, whereinthe clamping apparatus is designed such that the optical waveguidesection can be removed from the holding apparatus, after the opticalwaveguide section has been spliced, when the rotating apparatus is in athird position.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holdingapparatus comprises an introduction apparatus, in which a shrink sleevecan be placed.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the holdingapparatus comprises a guide opening through which the optical waveguidesection can be inserted, through the shrink sleeve which has been placedin the introduction apparatus into a groove of a clamping apparatus. 16.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding apparatus comprises aguide rail by means of which the holding apparatus can be attached tothe preprocessing unit and to the splicing unit.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a shrinking oven, wherein the shrinking ovenis fitted to the apparatus for splicing, a bracket, which is mountedsuch that it can rotate and is fitted to the apparatus for splicing,wherein the optical waveguide section can be attached to the bracketwhich is mounted such that it can rotate, wherein the bracket which ismounted such that it can rotate is fitted to the apparatus for splicingsuch that, after the bracket has been attached, the optical waveguidesection can be removed from the holding apparatus by rotating thebracket to a first rotation position, wherein the bracket which ismounted such that it can rotate is fitted to the apparatus for splicingsuch that the optical waveguide section can be inserted into theshrinking oven by rotating the bracket further, starting from the firstrotation position, to a second rotation position.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the bracket which is mounted such that it can rotateincludes a clamping device, wherein the optical waveguide section can beattached to the bracket by means of the clamping device of the bracket.19. An apparatus for holding an optical waveguide section, comprising: aguide rail by means of which the apparatus for holding the opticalwaveguide section can be attached to a processing unit for processingthe optical waveguide section, a clamping apparatus, by means of whichthe optical waveguide section can be clamped in the apparatus forholding the optical waveguide section, the clamping apparatus comprisesa moving clamping jaw and the optical waveguide section can be insertedinto a groove in the clamping apparatus when the clamping jaw is in afirst position, and the optical waveguide section is clamped in thegroove when the clamping jaw is in a second position, wherein theclamping jaw assumes the first position or the second position byrotating an eccentric and comprising a rotating apparatus by which theeccentric can be rotated so that the optical waveguide section can beinserted into the groove of the clamping apparatus when the rotatingapparatus is in a first position and the optical waveguide section isclamped in the groove of the clamping apparatus when the rotatingapparatus is in a second position; and wherein the clamping apparatus isdesigned such that the optical waveguide section can be removed from theclamping apparatus after the splicing of the optical waveguide sectionwhen the rotating apparatus is in a third position.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 19, comprising: an introduction apparatus in which a shrink sleevecan be placed.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatuscomprises a guide opening through which the optical waveguide sectioncan be inserted into the groove in the clamping apparatus through theshrink sleeve which has been placed in the introduction apparatus. 22.An apparatus for splicing of optical waveguide sections, comprising: asplicing unit for splicing of the optical waveguide sections, whereinthe splicing unit is fitted to the apparatus for splicing, at least oneholding apparatus for holding an optical waveguide section which isarranged on the splicing unit, a shrinking oven, by means of which ashrink sleeve can be shrunk onto a splicing point of the opticalwaveguide sections which are spliced in the splicing unit, wherein theshrinking oven is fitted to the apparatus for splicing, a bracket whichis mounted such that it can rotate and is fitted to the apparatus forsplicing, wherein the spliced optical waveguide sections can be attachedto the bracket which is mounted such that it can rotate, wherein thebracket which is mounted such that it can rotate is fitted to theapparatus for splicing such that, when the bracket is in a firstrotation position, the spliced optical waveguide sections can be removedfrom the holding apparatus, after attaching to the bracket, by rotatingthe bracket, wherein the bracket which is mounted such that it canrotate is fitted to the apparatus for splicing such that the splicedoptical waveguide sections can be fed to the shrinking oven by rotatingthe bracket further from the first rotation position to a secondrotation position.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the bracketwhich is mounted such that it can rotate includes a clamping device,wherein the optical waveguide section can be attached to the bracket bymeans of the clamping device of the bracket.